Attachment for addressing machines and the like



oct. 12 1926. N 1,602,780

B. G. RAND ATTACHMENT FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES AND THE LIKE j 21.11311 001,.A 24j. 1924 3 shets-Sheet 1 if W4 6l 45 123 635 l5/4g E; 5556 fyi, f 45%.,

ff @5W f5 l@ 5l 2'0 545 i j] ff 7////// ai'- :5113 il Oct.' l2 1926. 1,602,780

B. G. RAND ATTACHMENT FOR ADDREssING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed 00?.. 24, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 12 1926. 1,602,780

B. G. RAND ATTACHMENT FOR ADDRESSING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed om. 24, 1924 s sheets-sheet 5 @la e l N e Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

' UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

BENJAMIN G. RAND, F NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK. i

ATTACHMENT FOR `ADDRESSING MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed` October 24, 1924. Serial No. 745,674.

dress on the printing plate in a substantially horizontal line on the printed card'or other receiving surface. This is desirable,

deXes composed of overlapping hinged leaves, each provided at its free end with a narrow, transparent pocket for'receiving an index slip or label on which the address is usually printed in a single horizontal line.

Another object of the invention is to provide such .an attachment for addressing machines which is simple, compact and inexpensive in construction, and whose parts are soV organized and arranged .that the same is readily adjustable for adapting 1t to different kinds of work.

A further 'object is the provision of an efficient and reliable attachment of this character which can be applied to and removed from present-day addressing machines without in any way altering their construction.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of the attachment embodying my invention and showing the same in position on the bed plate or table of an addressing machine. Figure 2 is an end view thereof. Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 3---3,V Fig 1. Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectionV on line IiP-.4, Fig. 1. Figure 5 is a top` plan view of the attachment showing the parts in a different position and partly broken away for clearness. Figure 6 is a perspective View of the base or main supporting frame of the attachment. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the carriage thereof. kFigure 8 is a similar View of the carriage slide. Figure `9 is a 'perspective view of a card printed by the attachment. Figure 10 is a topi plan view. of

a modification of the invention. Figures 11 and 12 are similar views showing the parts in different positions. Figure 18 is a perspective view of a card printed by this modified form of attachment. Figure 14 1s a fragmentary section'siinilar to Figure 3, showing the card-grippers automat ically raised .to release the card.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. for example, in so-called visible card in- While the attachment, forming the sub- ]ect matter of this invention, is adapted for Y use in connection with any wellknown addressing machines, that shown in Figs. 1, 2 andB of the drawings, by way of example,

comprises a bed plate or supporting table 15 having a printing point or place 16 on its rupper side for receiving the customary stenciled or embossed printing-plate 17 on which the address isy grouped or arranged vertically in the usual manner shown in Fig. 1. Overlying the printing plate is the usual inked ribbon 18, and arranged for movement toward and from the latter to impress the printed matter on the card 19 or similar article is the roller platen 20. At

its front end, the supporting` table has adepending flange 21 provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced threadedsopenings 22.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the

same comprises a base or supporting plate 23, of substantially angular form in plan, which is adapted to rest flatwise on the table 15 of the addressing machine and which is adjustably fastened thereto. For this purpose, the base-plate is provided at its front edge with a depending flange 24 containing i a plurality of adjusting screws 23, 24a, the screws 23a engaging the threaded openings 22 in the table-flange 21 to effect thetransy `verse adjustment of the hase-plate in 'one direction, while the screws 24a abut against the front face of said table-Harige to effect the adjustment of the base-plate in the op posite direction. As shown in Figs. l and 6, the base-plate 23 is so shaped that itdoes v not overlie the printing-plate 17.

Guided on the base-plate of thel attachment for movement both transversely and longitudinally relative thereto and to the printing-plate 17 isa suitable carriage upOIl which the card 19 or other article to be printed is supported. ln its preferred construction, this carriage consists of a body portion 25 arranged lengthwise of the baseplate 23, a transverse bar 26 extending rearwardly from one end of the body-portion` and a longitudinal bar 27 disposed substantially parallel with the latter and fastened at one end to the free end of said transverse bar, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. l\/lounted on the underside of the carriage-body 25 is a slide or channel bar 28 which'is guided for horizontal movement on a companion longitudinal channel bar 29 lined to the top of the base-plate 23, as clearly shown in F ig. 6. The carriage is capable of alimited transverse movement relative to its channel bar 28 and for this purpose it is coupled with the latter by a pin and slot connection 30, 3,1, the slots 31 being prefer'- ably formed in the channel bar and :disposed at an angle to the longitudinal center line thereof. A suitable handle .or knob 32 is applied to the carriage-boch7 to etlect its convenient manipulation.

The numerals 33, 34 indicate two worksupporting plates arranged lengthwise ofthe carriage in spaced relation to provide a longitudinal slot or printing space 35 through which each printed line of the Yprinting plate 17 is adapted to be independently venposed while the remaining lines thereof are concealed beneath lone or both of the work supporting plates. The latter are detachably connected to `the carriage-body l25 and Vto the longitudinal bar 2?, respectively, and to this end these plates are provided at Vtheir outer longitudinal edges with ears or lugs 3G Yfor receiving screws 37 or other appropriate fastenings. rlhe plate 33 is provided at its outer longitudinal edge with an upright gage bar or flange 38 against which the corre spending edge of the card 19 is adapted to engage and at one end thereof with a tra-ns verse gage bar or lip 39 against which the adjoining end of the `card is adapted to engage, thereby permitting the proper placing of the cards on the carriage preparatory yto making an impression on them. As shown in Figs. 1 and 9, the relation of the parts is such that the various impressions are made in horizontal alincment near the ytop ofthe Jcard, the particular card illustrated being used in an index wherein the marginal or top portions of the cards bearing the address or other matter are `exposed.

The plate 34 is lihewise Vprovided with a longitudinal gage bar Ll() and a transverse gage bar or lip 41 against which the corresponding edges of the card are adapted to abut, when it is .desired to impressv the address near the bottom edge .of the card. In other words, Awhen it 4is desired to 'print the address ,at the top of the card, the la ter is placed .on'tlie 'plate ..33 against itspgages 3:8,

39, while when it is desired to make the impressions at the bottom of the card7 the same is placed on the plate 34 against its gages 40, 41.

ln order to prevent accidental displacement of the cards on their supporting plates 33, 34e, each of the latter is provided with gripping devices which preferably consist of lingers 42 mounted on a horizontal roch shaft L13 journaled at its ends in suitable brackets al and having a spring i5 coilet. vthereon tending constantly to roch the shaft in a direction to bring the lingers into contact with the cards. At one end each rock shaft has a crank-handle 1.6 for rocking it in the opposite direction to release the lingers l2 7from gripping engagement with the caros.

Means are provided for automatically governing or controlling the combined longitudinal and transverse movement of the carriage lto effect the transposition of the vertical arrangement of the address on Vthe printing plate 17 to the horizontal disposition vthereofon the card 19. This movement of the carriage is in a direction from right Ato left and is a step by step one, by which the printing space or slot 35 is brought successively int-o register with each line of the Vprinting plate with the result that the Cmame, street and city are distributed in spaced .relation and in horizontal alinement on the card. F or this purpose7 the .ends of the guide-channel 29 are provided with stops preferablyv in the form of longitudinallyearranged adjust-ing` screws Il?, 48 fitted in Ablocis and against which depending flanges 5.0 formed opposite ends of theI channel bar 28 of the carriage-body 25 are adapted to abut for limiting the extreme longitudinal movements of the carriage in `opposite directions. lounted on the baseplate 23 of the attachment in front of the carriage is a longitudinal rail 51 having` blocks 52, 53 adjustable lengthwise thereof and normally held in a set position by screws 5st. The block 52 contains a stop in the form of a transverse `adjusting screw 55 with which the front edge of tie carriage-body is adapted to engage for limiting the transverse, forward movement of the same.

its lnormal or initial position, the carri assumes the position shown in F 1, which the right-hand end of the channel bar 28 is in engagamentV with the screw fr? and the front end of the carriage-body is abutting against the screw 55. ln this position, the printing space k35 between the work-supporting plates 33, is in register with the last line'o'f the address on the printing plate 17? so `that when-the cart` to 'be Vprinted .is placed on said plates, such last line will be iin- `pressed thereon near the left hand end of the card when lthe Aroller platen 2.0 is operatet Therad-blade@ has-a step-'preferably in lio llt

^ whose 'path the end of the screw 56 projects.

When this beveled face encounters said screw, the carriage-body is shifted transversely and rearwardly on its channel bar 28, the pins 30 and diagonal slots 31 permitting such movement. card receives the impression of the second line of the printing-plate at the right of and in horizontal alinement with the first impression.

The final movement of the carriage to the dotted line position shown in Fig. is

limited in a longitudinal direction by the left hand stop-flange 50 of the channel bar 23 encountering the adjusting screw 48, while its transverse movement is limited by the carriage body pins engaging the rear ends of the companion slots 31 in said channel bar. In this position, the printing space 35 registers with the top line of the printing plate, with the card 19 in the proper position to receive its impression near the right hand end thereof and in horizontal alinement with the first and second impressions.

If desired, means may be provided for automatically releasing the gripping fingers 42 from the card 19 after the same has been printedf For example, as shown at the top of Fig. 1, and in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, such means may be in the form of a longitudinally adjustable trip device consisting of a standard 59 mounted on the rear end of the base-plate 23 and fastened thereto by a bolt 60 passing through a longitudinal slot 61 in the base of said standard. At its upper end, the latter has a beveled overhanging flange or deflector 62, facing toward the left,

" with which the crank handle 46 of the rear `substituted for it, after which the carriage is moved to the initial position shown in Fig. 1.

Briefly stated, the operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The carriage-25 is moved to Athe initial In this position, theV rear ends of the channel bar slots 3l.

position shownin Fig. 1 bringing its printing slot 35 in register with the last line of the printing-plate 17, the remaining lines being covered by the plate 34 of the carriage. The card to be printed is then placed on the supporting plates 33, 34 and against the gages 38, 39, and the roller platen 2O is operated to impress said last line on the card.

The knob 32 is then grasped and the carriage shifted toward the left in a longitudinal and rearward direction until the stop shoulder 57 encounters the stop screw 56. This brings the `printing-slot 35 in register with the second line of the printing-plate, as shown in Fig. 5. Upon impressing this second line on the card, it appears at the right of and horizontally in line with the first impression. The carriage is now again shifted to the left and rearwardly, being arrested in its longitudinal movement by the stop flange 50 of the channel bar 28 4striking the stop screw 48 and in its transverse movement bythe carriage pins 30 striking the This results in the printing-slot 35 registering with the first or top line of the printing plate, so that the impression thereof on the card appears at its right-hand end and horizontally in line with the first and second impressions. The finished card is then removed and another substituted for it.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, the device'is equipped to print two lines at a time instead of one and thereby serves as a check as to vwhether or not the address is correct in all its details. Thisis especially desirable when the attachment is'used on automatic addressing machines wherein the plates are delivered to and ejected from the printing place of the machine automatically at regular intervals. The various details of construction of this modified arrangement are identical with those of the structure previously described. In this case, however,

ut one work-supporting plate 63 is employed which is removably fastened to the longitudinal bar 27 of the carriage and whose front longitudinal edge is recessed or cut away, as shownat 64. This recess extends'from the left hand end of said plate for a distance not less than a longitudinal stop of the carriage 25, and the depth of the recess is about equal to the width of a line of the address. This arrangement is designed to print at the bottom of the card i shown inFig.` 10, the last two lines-of the address vwill first'be impressed at the lower left-hand portion of the card,"abo've its tab 66,'after shifting the carriage a step, as.

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hereinbefore described; the next impression will be substantially centrally `at Ithe 4bottom of the card with the last line o'l" the address appearingon the card-tab and the secondlast line appearing on the card-body, as shown .in Fig. ll; while after the second shift of the carriage, the iinal impression will be made on the lower right-hand portion of the card with the iirst line of the address appearing at the bottom of the cardbody and the last two lines on the card-tab, as shown in Fig. l2. IThis results in the address on the printing-plate appearing` in whole or in part in three distinct groups across the card with the naine, street and city disposed in horizontal alinement at the bottom ot the card, as shown in F 13. By this arrangement, the three groups may be compared to see if they all correspend. lr" they do, it will indicate that the several impressions were taken from the same printing-plate, while if they do not, it will indicate that another printing plate was automatically projected into operative position betore the card in question was completed. After the comparison is made, thc card-tab 6G is torn oil', so that when the card is placed in an index of the character hereinbeiore referred to, the complete address will appear in a horizontal line across the exposed bottom-portion or' the card.

t will be noted that this improved attachment is readily ladjustable to adapt it for use in connection with various types of addressing machines now in use and that the stroke or step by step movement of the carriage is likewise adjustable to suit different kinds of work and to eiiect the printing on any desired part of the card.

l claim as my invention l. The combination with a printing apparatus having` a printing-plate bearing printed matter disposed in superposed lines, of a work-supporting carriage mounted on said apparatus and movable step by step both lengthwise and crosswise of said printingplate, said carriage having a printing space arranged between its longitudinal edges to register successively with each of the lines oi" the printing-plate, while the remaining lines of the plate are covered by the carriage.

2, rlhe combination with a printing apparatus having; a printing plate bearing printed matterdisposed in superposed lines, of a work-supporting .carriage mounted on said apparatus for step by step movement longitudinally and transversely .of said printing plate, said carriage including a pair ot plates arranged in spaced relation to provide a longitudinalprinting space arranged to register successively and independently with each `ot the lilies of the printing` plate,

and means tor limiting the successive movements of said carriage'.

5. The-combinati@ with a 'printing appai ratus having` a printing-plate bearing printed matter disposed in superposed lines, of a work-supporting carriage mounted on said apparatus ior movement longitudinally and transversely of said printing plate, means for limitinp` the longitudinal movement oic said carriage at predetermined points, and mea-ns for elleotingv transverse movement ol? said carriage substantially simultaneously with its longitudinal movement.

l. The .combination with a printing apparatus having a printing-plate bearing' superposed lines oi'f matter, oit a worlr-supporting carriage movable longitudinally and transversely oi' said plate, stops arranged to arrest the carriage at dilierent points in its longitudinal movement and additional stops arranged to arrest the carriage at diilierent points in its transverse movement.

5. The combination with a printing apparatus having a printing-plate, oic a worksupporting carriage movable longitudinally and transversely ot said printing-plate, a longitudinal guide. member, a slide movable lengthwise on said guide member, and connectingmeans between said carriage and said slide permitting` transverse movement of the carriage relative to the slide.

(5. The combination with a printing apparatus havingv a printing-plate, of worksupport-ing carriage movable longitudinalljvY and transversely of said printing plate, a longitudinal guide member, a slide movable lengthwise on said guide member and a pin and slot Connection between said carriage and said slide, said slotbeing` arranged obliquely to said guide member.

i". rllhe 'ombination el" a printing apparatus having a printing-plate, of a worksupporting carriage movable longitudinally and transversely of said printing-plate, a longitudinal guide member having` endstops, and a slide connected to said carriage and move )le lengthwise on said guide member, sa slide being arranged to engage said end-stops to limit the longitudinal moven'ient olf the carriage in both directions, the ci je being' Vtree to move transversely et' said guiV i 8. The combination i ratus liavii'ig` a supporting carri. nelly and transve of said pi n plate, a longitndinn guide niemlier havinlfi` end-stops, a slide connecter. to said carriage and movable lengthwise on said guide member, the arriaeje being` tree to move transversely oi: .said snide member. said sli: arranged to eng" s end-stops to limit the longitudinal nieren rit ot the carriage in both directions, an@L an intermediate stop for said carriage interposed between said end-stops.y

9. rllie combination with a printing appa- :min air Afin lo mem ber.

loniri tu 'fat-us. having a printinof-plate, of a vworltlll) les

supportingcarriage movable longitudinally and transversely of 'said' printing plate, .a stop 'for limiting the longitudinal. movement or the carriage,` and meanslocated in the path of longitudinal inoveinent'oiv the carriage tor shitting it transversely of said printing plate. Y i

l0. rlhe combination with a printing apparatus having a printing-plate, of a wor rsupporting carriage movable longitudinally and transversely of said printing-plate, a deilecting device arranged in the path of longitudinal movement oi' the carriage for shifting it transversely, and a stop arranged to limit longitudinal movement of the carriage after its detlection.

l1. The combination with a printing apparatus having a printing-plate, oi a worksupporting carriage movable longitudinally and transversely of said printing plate, said carriage having a deflecting face and a stop-shoulder beyond said face and a stop arranged in the path of movement of said deflectinor face and said stop-shoulder,for iirst shiiting the carriage transversely and then limiting its longitudinal movement.

12. The combination with a printing apparatus having a printing-plate, of a worksupporting carriage movable longitudinally and transversely of said priiiting-plate, a f

longitudinal guide member for said carriage, the latter being free to move transversely of said guide member, and stops for limiting the transverse movement of said carriage in both directionsi 13. The combination with a printing apparatus, having a printing-plate, of a worksupporting carriage movable longitudinally and transversely of said printing-plate, a longitudinal guide member, a slide movable lengthwise on said Guide member, a! pin and slot connection zbetween said carriage and said slide permitting transverse movemont oi the carriage relative thereto, one end of the slot forming a stop for limiting such movement oi. the carriage in one direction, and a second stop arranged in the path ot the carriage for limiting its transverse movement in the opposite direction.

la. The combination with a printing appratus having a printing-plate, of a worksupporting carriage movable relatively to said printing-plate, a rock shaft mounted on said carriage and having gripping lingers arranged to normally engage the work, a crank-arm on said shaft, and a trip device arranged in the path of movement of said crank-arm .for rocking said shaft to releasing position when the printing operation is completed.

15. An attachment for addressing machines, comprising a base-plate, and a worksupporting carriage mounted on said baseplate and movable both longitudinally and transversely thereof, said carriage having the lines-oi' apriiiting plate. 16: AnA Vattachment for addressing machilies, comprising af base-plate, a longitudinal-guide Vmember thereon, a slide movable a kprinting-space adapted to register` with lengthwise on said guide member, a' work,- l

tween said carriage and said slide permitting transverse movement of the carriage relative to the slide, and stops arranged at predetermined points on said base-plate and in the path of movement of the carriage for limit-V ing its longitudinal and transverse movements. Y

18. An attachment for addressing machines, comprising a base-plate, a longitudinal guide member thereon, a slide movable lengthwise on said guide member, a worksupporting carriage mounted on said slide to move therewith, connecting means between said oarriage and said slide permitting transverse movement of the carriage relative to the slide, stops arranged adjacent the ends of said guide member and in the path of movement of said slide, and an intermediate stop for the carriage interposed between said end-stops.

19. An attachment for addressing machines, comprising a base plate, a longitudinal guide member thereon, a slide movable lengthwise on said guide member, a worksupporting carriage mounted on said slide to move therewith, a pin and slot connection between said carriage and said slide for permitting transverse movement of the carriage relative to the slide, said connection determining the extreme transverse movements of the carriage in both directions, and means for arresting said carriage intermediate said extreme movements. Y

20. An attachment Jfor addressing machines, comprising a base plate, a longitudinal guide member thereon, a slide movable lengthwise on said guide member, a worlrsupporting carriage mounted on said slide to move therewith, and a pin and slot conneotion between said carriage and said slide for permitting transverse movement of the carriage relative to the slide, the slot of said bnnection being arranged obliquely.

2l. The hereindescribed method of repro-V ducing the vertical series of lines of the printing plate of an addressing machine in a substantially horizontal line, which consists loo lit)

in covering all but one of the lines of the plate7 imprinting the uncovered line of Jelle plate upon a receiving surface, uncovering the next line of the plate and Covering its remaining lines, shifting the receiving surace lengthwise and ci'osswise of the plate in an step-like course to bring said uncovered second line of the plate in horizontal alinement with the lirst line impressed on the re ceiving surface, and imprinting said un- .1G covered second line of the plate on the receiving surface.

BENJAMIN G. RAND. 

